HUNTSVILLE, AL. - The traffic signal timing at University Drive and Enterprise Way has "perplexed" Dan Norris for more than three years.

The problem, as Norris outlined it in an e-mail, is a short green signal for workers leaving Cummings Research Park in the afternoon. Enterprise Way, he said, is considered the north entrance to Research Park.

"I understand this light is coordinated with the other lights in the area, like the one at Perimeter Parkway and the one at the entrance to the Target shopping center," Norris said. "However, this light only stays green for about 15 seconds in the afternoon for traffic leaving Research Park from 4:30 (p.m. to) 5:15 p.m."

The short green light for northbound Enterprise Way drivers allows only six to eight cars to pass and usually requires drivers to sit through three light cycles before they're able to leave Research Park, he said.

"Surely the traffic engineers can accommodate at least 45 seconds per cycle for those trying to get home," Norris said.

Dennis Thompson, a traffic engineer in the city Traffic Engineering Department, said that, as with all main arteries in the city, "the major portion of the timing cycle length has to be given to University Drive during the peak hour flows."

But, he added, the department does monitor and make adjustments to signal timing for side streets when possible.

MPO meeting

The Metropolitan Planning Organization will meet Wednesday to consider changes to the long-range transportation plans that would include a tunnel under Interstate 565 to extend Hughes Road to a proposed Dunlop Boulevard extension.

The organization, which sets transportation priorities for the area, will meet at 4 p.m. on the seventh floor of City Hall to consider several additions and deletions to the 2035 Transportation Plan.

Madison has requested adding six projects to the plan, including the Hughes Road extension under I-565.

Madison also wants to add an extension of Dunlop Boulevard north and east to Zierdt Road; an I-565 interchange at the Dunlop Boulevard extension less than a mile west of Zierdt Road; an extension of Intergraph Way from Disk Drive to the Dunlop Boulevard extension; an extension of Seger Road from Powell Road to Browns Ferry Road; and an extension of Henderson Road from U.S. 72 to Browns Ferry Road.

Huntsville is asking that a proposed connector road between U.S. 431 and King Drake Road be deleted from the plan. The city wants to add improvements to Airport Road from Memorial Parkway to east of Whitesburg Drive, and Old Monrovia Road from Providence Main Street to Jeff Road.

Projects must be in the MPO plan to be eligible for federal transportation money.

The MPO agenda also includes amending the 2008-2012 Transportation Improvement program to add a transit grant for Alabama A&M University and preliminary engineering design for a Blake Bottom Road overpass at Research Park Boulevard.